can my house take it?

Ciarian Abbott · Feb 19, 2011

before i get stared ide like to say im not an electrician so i dont really know anything about electricity

my query is i was looking at buying this welder P\Tica 151 Portable Arc Welder | Northern Tool + Equipment on the website it says it runs of a 16a mains fuse how can i find out if my house can take this will it be on my fuse box if so where please please help me

DurhamSparky · Feb 19, 2011

16A is not particulary Big load if im been honest!

unless you have a 40A main fuse and always run the 10.5KW shower and your wife is cooking on her 15Kw range cooker 24h i day i would say your pretty safe!

Paul.M · Feb 19, 2011

The 16A load is fine to run from a domestic consumer unit BUT get it checked out and installed by an electrician first. You can't just plug it into a 13A three pun plug, it will need its own circuit and the correct rcd for extra protection. Also have to be careful about your neutral clamp getting into contact with another circuit. Get it checked out mate for the price of a new circuit.

Ciarian Abbott · Feb 19, 2011

im getting mixed messages will it work or not ? how can i tell by looking at my fuse box and plug sockets or something i went for a look at my fuse box and this is what it says '' do not exceed 60amps'' then theres something above it with fuse on it that says 40amps and on the other one there are loads of little box like things with switches on that say 35a 35a 35a 6a what the heck does all the mean

DurhamSparky · Feb 19, 2011

to clarify in simple terms!!

YES YOUR HOUSE WILL TAKE IT

but get an electrician to install a circuit for you to run it from as rightly so as Paul.M siad it can not be just plugged in to a 13A socket outlet! it needs hard wiring into a dedicated circuit!

High Tower · Feb 19, 2011

You need to get a competent electrician to install a 2.5mm cable on a 20a breaker, 16a blue commando socket, but there are lots of regs to consider and the slight issue of a big inductive load with large start up currents and possible earth leakage to consider. You will need to get a spark to do all of this as the welder probably will need to be on a type c breaker, and in order to do this you will need to have the ze tested for your property.

Also by the sounds of your post you have a bs3036 cu and it's is not permissible to further add circuits to this.

In a word yes it can be done but it needs to be by a competent person as there is lots to take into consideration .

Ciarian Abbott · Feb 19, 2011

i might already have one of them how would i know

High Tower · Feb 19, 2011

Have one of what?

Ciarian Abbott · Feb 19, 2011

16amp socket thing

Ciarian Abbott · Feb 19, 2011

16 amp socket thing

Paul.M · Feb 19, 2011

Please get an electrician in for your own safety.

Phil · Feb 19, 2011

paul.m said:
Please get an electrician in for your own safety.

as paul ht, and ds have quite rightly said you need to get an electrician in . not only for your own safety but furthermore for the legality of the requirements to comply with part p of the building regs. its not a massive job and if you pop your general area up im sure someone will be happy to quote you for it.

Geordie Spark · Feb 20, 2011

Ciarian Abbott said:
i might already have one of them how would i know

THIS CEENORM|601311|SOCKET, PANEL MOUNT, 220/250V | Farnell United Kingdom
is the 16 amp socket to plug your welder into.

Have you got one of those stuck on a wall anywhere in your house?

If not, you'll need an electrician to fit one and wire it back to your fuse box using the correct size & type of cable & fit your fuse box with an appropriate fuse or other protective device.

Hope this helps.

Adam W · Feb 20, 2011

As Durham said it will work from your supply. If you have space in your consumer unit it will make it easier, and if you actually have the welder (or more importantly the manufacturer's data) it will make it easier for the electrician who installs the supply for it, and cheaper for you - then you could just say "make this work for me my good man" and it will be done.
Before they get there make sure you know where you want it, and have a think about where the wiring could be run if the wiring needs to be mounted on the wall.